How You Submit Your VAT Return With MTD

Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT is an initiative implemented by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in the UK, aimed at simplifying and streamlining the process of VAT reporting and record-keeping. Under MTD, businesses are required to maintain digital records of their VAT transactions and submit their VAT returns using compatible software. This move towards digitalization aims to reduce errors by automating VAT calculations, improve efficiency, and provide real-time visibility into tax obligations.

To comply with MTD for VAT, once a business has registered for VAT it can choose from a variety of software solutions specifically designed to support VAT reporting and filing.

What Are Some Software Options For Completeing My VAT Return With MTD?

Popular software options for filing tax returns include:

1. FreeAgent: FreeAgent is an intuitive accounting software that includes MTD for VAT compliance. It enables businesses to track VAT, generate VAT returns, and submit them electronically to HMRC.
2. Xero: Xero is a cloud-based accounting software that integrates with HMRC systems, enabling businesses to manage their VAT obligations seamlessly. It automates VAT calculations, provides VAT reporting, and facilitates easy filing of VAT returns.
3. Sage Business Cloud Accounting: Sage offers accounting software with VAT features tailored for businesses of different sizes. It supports VAT calculations, provides real-time VAT reporting, and simplifies the process of submitting VAT returns.
4. QuickBooks: QuickBooks offers a comprehensive accounting software package that includes VAT functionality. It allows users to track VAT, generate VAT returns, and submit them directly to HMRC.
5. Zoho Books: Zoho Books is an online accounting software that supports MTD for VAT. It helps businesses manage VAT transactions, prepare VAT returns, and file them electronically.

Can You Submit VAT Returns Manually?

The shift away from paper VAT returns and the adoption of digital methods, such as online filing means there is no way to submit your VAT return without MTD. This initiative aims to modernize and simplify the tax system, making it more efficient, accurate (so less VAT mistakes), and easier for businesses to comply with their tax obligations. There are several reasons why paper VAT returns are no longer accepted by HMRC:

1. Improving efficiency: Paper-based processes are time-consuming and prone to manual errors. By transitioning to digital filing, HMRC can streamline the VAT return process, reducing processing times and improving the overall efficiency of tax administration.
2. Enhancing accuracy: Paper returns are susceptible to mistakes and illegible handwriting, which can lead to errors in data entry, incorrect VAT calculations and processing. Digital filing reduces these risks by allowing businesses to input data directly into the system, minimizing transcription errors.
3. Real-time visibility: Digital VAT returns enable HMRC to have real-time access to businesses’ financial data, providing a more accurate and up-to-date understanding of their tax liabilities. This facilitates quicker identification of discrepancies or potential non-compliance, allowing for prompt action if necessary.
4. Promoting compliance: MTD for VAT encourages businesses to keep accurate digital records and maintain ongoing compliance with their VAT obligations. By requiring digital filing, HMRC can monitor and enforce compliance more effectively, ensuring that businesses meet their reporting and payment deadlines.
5. Reducing administrative burden: Digital filing simplifies the VAT return process by pre-populating certain fields based on the business’s digital records. This reduces the administrative burden on businesses, as they don’t need to manually calculate and fill in all the information on the return form.

While the transition to digital VAT returns required businesses to adapt to new systems and processes, it ultimately offered numerous benefits in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and compliance. It’s important for businesses to embrace these digital changes and utilize compatible accounting software or online platforms to fulfill their VAT reporting obligations in line with HMRC requirements.

How To Submit MTD VAT Return

Submitting your VAT return with MTD doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With the advent of digitalization and the implementation of MTD for VAT, the process has become more streamlined and efficient. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps involved in submitting your VAT return, ensuring compliance with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) requirements.

Keep Accurate Digital Records

Under MTD for VAT, maintaining accurate digital records is crucial. Digital records provide a clear audit trail of your VAT transactions and ensure compliance with HMRC regulations. Using accounting software compatible with HMRC systems, such as QuickBooks, Xero, or Sage Business Cloud Accounting, allows you to easily record and track your sales, purchases, and other VAT-related activities. It’s important to regularly update your digital records to reflect any changes in your business transactions.

Ensure that your digital records capture all the necessary details for each VAT transaction, including the date of the transaction, the value of the goods or services, the applicable VAT rate, and any relevant customer or supplier information. By keeping meticulous records, you’ll have accurate data readily available when it’s time to prepare your VAT return.

Calculate Your Vat Liability

Once you have maintained accurate digital records, it’s time to calculate your VAT liability for the specified period covered by your VAT return. Your accounting software will automatically perform VAT calculations based on the information you’ve entered.

To calculate your VAT liability, you need to consider both output tax and input tax. Output tax refers to the VAT you charge on your sales, while input tax represents the VAT you can reclaim on your business purchases. Subtract the input tax from the output tax to determine your VAT liability.

It’s important to note that different VAT rates may apply to different goods or services, so ensure that you accurately apply the appropriate VAT rates to your transactions. Additionally, be aware of any VAT exemptions or special schemes that may apply to your business, as these can affect your VAT liability calculations.

Prepare your VAT return with MTD

With your VAT liability calculated, it’s time to prepare your VAT return. Your accounting software will generate a VAT return form, pre-populated with the relevant figures based on your recorded transactions.

Review the pre-populated figures to ensure their accuracy. Double-check that the output tax and input tax amounts align with your calculations. If you identify any errors or discrepancies, make the necessary adjustments in your accounting software. It’s crucial to have accurate figures in your VAT return to avoid any potential penalties or issues with HMRC.

In addition to the VAT liability, the VAT return form may include other sections or boxes to report specific transactions or adjustments. Familiarize yourself with these sections and ensure you provide the required information. For example, if you have made any VAT adjustments for bad debt relief, capital goods scheme, or reverse charge transactions, ensure that these are properly recorded in the respective sections of the VAT return form.

Submit your VAT return using compatible software

To comply with MTD for VAT, you need to submit your VAT return with MTD software that is compatible with HMRC’s systems. Most reputable accounting software providers offer MTD-compliant solutions that facilitate direct submission.

Using your compatible accounting software, electronically submit your VAT return to HMRC. The software will communicate directly with HMRC’s systems, securely transmitting your VAT return information. This digital submission eliminates the need for manual paper-based filing, making the process faster, more accurate, and more convenient.

Before submitting, review all the details in your VAT return form one last time to ensure everything is correct. Check that all figures are accurate and that you’ve completed all the necessary sections. Once you are confident everything is OK you can submit.